A writer's metaphysical look at life after death

Friday

Mar 27, 2009 at 12:01 AM

W

CECILIA SACCO FUSCO

W

hen I started writing for the Eastern Poconos Community News my goal has been to introduce metaphysics, which is the branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of "being" and knowledge, the essential nature of reality I have studied for three decades.

As early as my mid-teens I was preoccupied with the issue of "Life after Death." I couldn't believe that death was the end of our lives. It didn't make sense if it was true our birth and existence on earth would have no meaning, no purpose. While I waitressed 30 years ago, a woman customer, who was a pastor, took my hand and said, "You are an old soul, a symphony."

I believe that the gifted can read our auras. She asked for my address and sent me a book entitled "There is a River" by Thomas Surgrue about the life of Edgar Cayce the greatest sleeping prophet of the 20th century who died at the age of 72 in 1942. He's been referred to as the 20th century Nostradamus. Not only under self-hypnosis did he cure 30,000 people of every disease imaginable with natural cures, no drugs or surgery but he read past lives (the theory of reincarnation) as well as predicted world events. It's when I learned of his foundation, the A.R.E. (the Association for Research and Enlightenment) based at Virginia Beach, Va., where all his records are kept.

In the Sept. 26 issue of the Community News there was an article featuring Ray Brennan and Masomeh Fritz who co-authorized a book entitled "The Legacy of the Chosen One" whereby they mentioned the A.R.E. and Edgar Cayce. Our local library did not have it as yet. Timing is important, so now that the authors have turned the knob on the door to understand the concept of metaphysics which they also mentioned, one must start from the beginning. It's likened to going to school from the first grade up. That's why "There is a River" is a must to read to prepare you for your metaphysical journey.

I haven't introduced Cayce before because there are debunkers whom I don't doubt will use this column as a source of controversy, but since Ray Brennan and Mesomeh Fritz have paved the path, I will follow suit. Edgar Cayce without any medical knowledge whatsoever cured thousands. He was not a scholarly pupil but devoutly religious and would read the Bible sitting under a tree. When he was finished, he'd read it all over again. One day an angel appeared to him (egostics who do not believe in angels should read his book and consecutive books I will list at the end of my column) and asked him what his fervent wish was. His response was, "to cure people."

His uncle was the teacher in his class who cracked him across the knuckles because of wrong answers. One night while his father scolded him going over his lessons, Cayce decided to sleep with the book under his pillow. When his father asked him questions the next morning, he not only heard the right answers but Cayce recited the book in its entirety. Cayce and all metaphysical texts state that death is but a transition from one state of existence to another. Life continues after we "pass."

There have been many cases whereby patients undergoing surgery who were clinically dead for three or four minutes, explained their experiences stating that they were drawn to a tunnel with a bright light at which time they saw their dearly departed. Some recounted that they heard a voice telling them they had to go back as it was not their time yet to cross over and when they returned to their bodies it was like a vacuum ending with a thud. Scientists as usual have their theories claiming that physiological changes in the body before death is the reason for their experiences.

However, they have no answer for a particular case when a surgical procedure required a woman's body temperature to be lowered dramatically, as well as stopping the beat of her heart for seven hours so by all accounts, she was clinically dead. During that time (when the surgery was over) she told the surgeons she floated above her body and watched and heard everything they said. She even described the color of the shoes the surgeon wore. She also had the same experience as other patients, the tunnel — the bright light, and seeing her deceased loved ones.

Surgeons have not only documented this phenomenon but have given serious thought to "life after death" as not being a myth. What I don't understand is why those who do not believe in life after death celebrate Christmas and Easter. They claim that they believe in God and Jesus Christ. But if they truly believe, then they must remember that Jesus said, "Those who believeth in me shall never die," and, "Those who believeth in me, though they die, shall live forever."

In metaphysical text, it states that visions of the dead are seen within 24 hours of their passing. Countless people whose integrity is above reproach have offered their experiences to paranormal researchers. A man heard a knock on his door in the early evening welcoming his brother who fought in World War II. They embraced when his brother told him he was on furlough but was saddened when he had to leave in a half hour to report to base. The next morning, a telegram arrived informing him his brother had been killed in action the day before.

A man enjoyed dancing with a woman named Mary invited by his friends at a function which took place an hour away from his home. When he asked to drive her home, she said she had her own car but she gave him her address and that he could visit when he chose. A week later he went to the address. An older woman opened the door. He saw Mary's picture on the mantel of the fireplace and when he asked for her, the woman was shocked. "Is this a joke," she asked. My daughter has been dead for 15 years.

A woman had a dream of her deceased uncle who told her his updated will was in the left pocket of his tweed sports jacket. She found it. My ex-husband's sister-in-law said she saw her deceased husband who had passed the day before who told her at the foot of her bed to call a mechanic for the oil burner. When she did, she was told if she hadn't called him, it would have exploded.

A Russian couple 30 years ago invented an imaging called Kirlian photography and when a picture of a plant with a missing leaf was developed, the missing leaf showed rainbow colored flickering lights. When a picture of a man with a missing leg lost in the war was taken and developed, it showed rainbow colored lights around the missing leg. Five years later, the method was introduced in the United States.

The subject of metaphysics is endless — covering all issues, Ghost activities, psychic phenomena, interpretation of dreams, O.B.E. (out of body experiences) and, last but not least, the what, why and who we're all about. After reading "There is a River," follow it up with Edgar Cayce's story of "The Origin and Destiny of Man" by Lytle Robinson where the cover flap states, "The first comprehensive volume of the great psychics visions of man's unknown history and future."